Obama's VP will be less influencial towards the ticket than McCain's
MorgMcA said 06/24, 05:51 PM
Let's be honest here nobody really votes for the president based off of his VP choice. It can however influence the ticket if it's chosen correctly
That said, Obama's VP choice will influence his ticket less than McCain's choice will influence his
Reason's why, McCain is not the dramatic, shine in the spotlight, football stadium speaker. He delivers better in smaller more personal enviroments w/ an ample amount of back and forth. This means he should choose a dramatic, flamboyant VP who, because of the drama added to the ticket, will share press time w/ McCain more fully. Obama's dramatic which means to balance the ticket he should choose someone more sober, who will all but disappear in the limelight
McCain can compensate for his age w/ his VP slot, choosing someone young gives youthful energy to the ticket. Obama's greatest concern to imagebased-voters is he's black (fair no, true maybe). How is his VP selection going to change any of that
The attack-dog role is generally considered to be the role of the VP, however Obama is doing a good job of taking that role as well
In the flurry of press come Nov Obama's VP will be all but lost, McCain's will garner attention
theyoungdem said 06/25, 10:05 AM
I believe the factor of how much the VP would influence the ticket does not depend on Obama or McCain, it depends on the VP.
Say Obama gets a VP who is also "dramatic, shine in the spotlight, football stadium speaker" then what? Those traits are not the kind of traits the nominees seek to balance out the ticket. It is their views on policy.
Obama does not have to get someone quiet and sober to balance the ticket. He needs to get someone who can attract voters where he fails to do so, maybe older voters or hispanic voters or working class blue collar workers.
Obama can easily get a VP that is more influential than John McCain's VP. The same could be said the other way around. John McCain could obtain a VP more influential than Obama's. But your idea of McCain's VP having to be more influential than Obama's is incorrect.
It all depends on which VP they pick, and how those VPs act out their roles.
MorgMcA said 06/25, 02:08 PM
You're right it does ultimately depend on the VP itself, but the window of opportunity to contribute in a vote catching way, is narrower for an Obama VP
Obama can choose another flashy person for his VP, but it will cement the perception (one which I hold) that he is more drama than action. talks pretty, but can't deliver. Obama is flashy enough on his own. A VP needs to bring attributes not restricted to viewpoints and issues, but also personality. balance on both counts would be prefered. since Obama already has the sparkle the media craves (and is the presidential canidate to boot), his VP would naturally not get any attention and have very little impact on the ticket or cement another negative impression of Obama himself, should he choose another drama queen
McCain has a different problem, he's not dramatic enough, he needs to find a VP who adds drama to the ticket and gathers media attention (and shares viewpoints). His dramatic VP could garner media attention and imagebased-votes, making him a large contributer to the ticket, larger than Obama's pick on Obama's ticket
that's what i mean, i'm not talking once in office influence, i'm only talking on the ticket influence
theyoungdem said 06/28, 03:52 PM
You say Obama is more drama than action, ultimately I assume you think McCain would be a better president, this we can debate on another debate. However, the level of how much a candidate would influence the general public does not rely on how "drammatic" the candidate is. It would much more rely on where they stand on several issues.
If McCain gets another VP who also believes in the banning of gay marriage, or continuing the war in Iraq, then he in now way would be more influential if Obama gets a VP who contains stances on issues that appeal to more people.
It all comes down to where the VP stand on issues, and what they did in their past experience. The drammatic thing is a factor, but not the only factor, and not the strongest factor.
Thus, we can make no proclamations of McCain's future VP of being more influential than Obama's future VP just relying on the traits of "drama"
MorgMcA said 06/28, 06:17 PM
When people vote on the issues they vote on the stances of the president. I highly doubt the stances of the VP really seal the ticket for one party or the other, after all the VP is really the least important public office in the nation. The VP also has to support the president's agenda, not to promote their own agenda over that of the president's
If McCain selects a VP who also believes in banning gay marriage and winning the war in Iraq (these stances appeal to many conservatives), people will vote the exact same way as they would before he chose a VP, unless this VP can get attention
While campaigning it is the job of the president to look presidential and have the answers. the VP however has a much looser set of appearances he must upkeep. He contributes the most to the ticket when he gets attention, he can be a bit more controversial than the president and not negatively impact the ticket in a significant way, in fact it may be good for him to be controversial, those offended will realize that the president runs the country, not the VP, and those who like what was said will support the ticket. that is as long as he doesn't do something indefensible
theyoungdem said 07/07, 08:25 AM
It's true that people vote mainly on the stances of the Presidential candidate and not the VP candidate, however, the stances of the VP help balance the tickets, persuading more people in the general population, hence one of the main purposes of a VP.
Their stances does not have to be different, they would simply be more stronger and convincing than stances of the presidential cnadiate.
If McCain gets a VP who is highly respected in the republican conservative voting group, then that candidate will indeed be very influential, not if the candidate is "drammatic".
The VP would get attention by how? Do you believe that they get attention by going out and making drammatic speeches? THey get the attention by what they have done and their popularity.
It all comes down to what the VP candidates did in the past and what their stances are. They're group of traits including how drammatic they are, would create a miniscule impact.
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Schwarzenegger isn't eligible to be VP, because he isn't eligible to be president. The criteria are the same. I have trouble thinking of a superstar Veep candidate for John McCain. Giuliani would be the closest to that mark.
Big Little Tommy | 07/04/08
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Very sorry about the delay and the lack of strength in my arguments, I've been away for a while at the beach in North Carolina, and busy with other summer things too, lol I hardly find time for debates, I'll be back soon.
theyoungdem | 07/07/08
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Please keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.
Only Axl Rose remains in the group, but since 1987 GnR has been rocking with fury
More than 50 years of cover stories about the 35th President
What dramatic, flamboyant candidate is out there for McCain right now? and even if there is one, the vp does not have the same opportunity to shine in the spotlight as the president, so whoever McCain picks is likely to be swept aside
Skipper04 | 06/25/08
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